Audubon County Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Audubon Co., Iowa) 1885-1894, 1887-05-19

A REFORMED GAMBLER.
Evaneelist Forrest and His Peculial
Work in San Francisco,

Evaneelist Forrest and His Peculiar
Work in San Francisco.
Evangelist Ned Forests broadclotl
coat had not speck of dust upon it
his white four-in-hand scarf was adj
iusted to nicely around his 'cut- my
chin" collar, and his hair was banget
and plastered as accurately as vaselint
would stick it. when he began opera
tons on the souls of his very respect
able audience at the Central Methodist
Church last evening. The reformed
short-card player was the central bril-,
liant in setting of smart young wom-
en- who sang more or less, and five
gentlemen of various degrees of thick
ness, who formed the male portion OF
the choir. Tho exhorter had the pull.
pit moved to one side SO as to leave
the platform free for his exasperated
motions. The audience was composed
mainly of the male sex, the fairer half
of creation being TOO much mystifed
by the reformed gamblers technical
slang to appreciate his sallies, while
the men present affected the bald head
by large majority. Forests verna-
cular frequently brought down the
house, his illusions to full hands"
and straight fushes," .'blufiing,"
''straddles," "antes." and stocked
deals being thoroughly enjoyed and
apparently appreciated. A particu-
larly unique feature OF the series of
services is the absence of the collection
plate.
Out of regard for the convention
alitles, but evidently for no other rea-
son, Forrest selected text, Saved by
Hope" which he announced was to be
found in eighth Romans, oath verse,
| and paid no further attention to-
The services were opened by sing
ing, which he started with the injunc-
ton to the young lady in frizzes. who
played the organ, to ''let her go!" And
she did "let her CO." and the choir
'let her CO." aud there was some
noise there or Whereabouts.
Glad to see so many of the boys
here tonight" began the speaker. II
feel that God called me unto the work
for the boys. When man of my age
has spent fifteen years going down
to hell and has been stopped, he owes a
debt of gratitude. That's what l owe,
and want to cash in.
"ro-night l am not going to talk to
cemeteries. God only knows the Sc
crets of the graveyards. Scores that
lay out in Lone Mountain refused the
Lord. When the cask is screwed down
there is no chance for fellow. When
the crepe is hanged before the door you
can't cash your checks. Twice in my
life l have laid at deaths door, once
with knifewound and once with
A that left hole in my neck can
put my finger into"
1.-THE revivalist described how par
son in sermon over drunkards body
promised the wife and mother and
daughter to meet him in heaven"
mo. he went to hell! cried the
evangelist. "a gambler don't want to
60 to heaven. He'd have no one to
play game with"
The exhorter here fell into q lachry-
NOSE condition. during which he dealt in
considerable sentiment, and related the
story of his own convention while deal
ing faro. He claimed to have been too
wicked for description, too low for the
imagination to grasp, and took huge
satisfaction in the picture of depravity
which he presented.
But" he shouted, shifting the pull
pit n mighty thwack, 'I've found a
game that pays. I've found hand
that wins every hour of my life; it's
hand no man can hold over, no man
can bluff me on. 1t is the hand God
dealt to me, and l won't lay it down UNI
til lay it down at the throne of God"
The converted gambler then depicted
girl initiated into game of cards in
home, and a year later staggering up
the street.
Then, somewhat irrelevantly, he as
serted: "a gambler has heart as big
as church. God bless and have mercy
on the gamblers of San Francisco. The
only time l ever held sure. good hand
that couldn't be done up hold now"
"a friend of mine l helped plant in
Leadvile. There was man who held
as big roll as any man in Frisco. l
found him lying dying from consump-
ton. 4 don't want to squeal at the
tail end of my life. he said. That
isn't squeal ng,' l said. So l found a
parson and set him to work on him.
We all got down on our knees, and
while we prayed he gasped, God, if
there's any such thing as mercy for
such one as me, give it ter me-
"Men say they don't like such thing
as hell. Well, believe in straight,
regular, A No. hell know Teller
who was an intidel who dropped off a
boat into the river. They got him up
and done the barrel act on him, and
he was fixed, when the first thing he
says was, Thank Cod" Thought
you didn't believe in God?' said a duck
who stood by. That's all right said
the Teller they fshed up. Infidelity is
a good enough thing on top of the boat,
but pretty poor thing to go down on
to keel with
''Now, you fellers, look out, or the
devil will be playing euchre with you
over dry-goods box in hell. That's
good enough place for some poor fell
lows, anyhow. A few years ago in
Mexico, l was playing game of cards.
This Mexican duck was playing with
thought had took card. was &C
cused of the act 1t may have been an
accident. 1t might have been theft.
l was in financial straits. The Next
thought it was a theft. l will leave it
to you. This fellow didn't say word.
| He met pulln6 rr,n on5 LOT bnr mn